Latch construction



Nov. 24, 1942. A RHO E 2,302,957

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ALB E RT J. RHODES BY xjwy w I A TTORN Y5 Nov. 24, 1942. A, .1. RHODESLATCH CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1940 EFL 11 25INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. RHO DES I ATTORNE Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Albert J. Rhodes, .Pontiac, Mich, assignor to American Forging &Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationMay 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,782

4 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanisms and equivalent holdingdevices, being particularly, al-

though not exclusively, adapted for use in latching the hoods of motorvehicles.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved andsimplified hood latch, innorporating safety catch mechanism inconjunction with a main latch, the safety catch mechanism beingautomatically called into play upon elease of the main catch, andpreventing complete release of the hood, or other held portion, savewhen deliberately manipulated in a manner which is only possible whenthe vehicle is at rest.

The invention aims to provide a hood latch construction of the indicatedcharacter constiuting an improvement upon the structures disclosed inthe copending applications of Walter S. Saunders, Serial Nos. 139,778and 139,779, filed April 29, 1937, now U. S. Letters Patent Nos.2,199,467 and 2,199,468, respectively, dated May '1, 1940.

Another object is to provide a double latch assembly of the characterindicated which is simpler and less expensive in construction, and alsoquicker and simpler to install than known devices of this class.

Still another object is to provide in such a latch assembly improvedadjusting means for compensating for variations in the sheet metalstructure of the vehicle, and for taking up lost motion such as thatwhich develops as a result of wear.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein similarreference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the frontportion of the hood of a motor vehicle provided with a hood latchingmeans constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions ofthe hood and radiator grille being broken away to disclose thepositioning of the latch assembly.

Figure 2 is a plan'view of that portion of the latch mechanism which iscarried by the fixed part of the vehicle structure, the lid or bonnetsection being raised.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the latchmechanism and adjacent supporting port'ons of the vehicle structure,showing the parts in the positions they occupy when the lid is fullyclosed and latched.

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Flgure 3 but showing the maincatch released and thesafety catch blocking full opening movement of thelid.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 ofFigure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a plan view of that portion of the latch assembly which iscarried by the lid section, showing the same removed from the lid.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a vehicle body having afront engine-enclosing hood of more or less conventional arrangement isillustrated in Figure 1. The fixed hood portion l0 forms the mainenclosure for the engine compartment, which is accessible through a lidI2, hinged to the vehicle at its back edge and adapted to be lifted fromthe front.

Agusset plate I5, mounted within the nose of the lid section, andserving also as a reenforcement, carries a relatively heavy stud I!projecting downwardly therefrom, riveted or otherwise secured in place.The portion of the stud which extends through the gusset plate ispreferably flattened upon at least one side, to lock it against turning.The lower end of the stud is threaded, and carries a substantially conichead 20 forming a keeper. The keeper is threaded upon the stud andadapted to be locked against turning by means of a set screw 2|. Thesubstantially conic shape of the keeper will be seen to provide ashoulder, 22, at right angles to the stud, while its threaded mountingallows adjustment thereof simply by loosening set screw 2! to permitrotation of the keeper.

To the under side of a cooperating plate 30, secured to the fixedportion of the vehicle structure and apertured as at 32 in position topermit the keeper head 20 to project therethrough, is pivoted a swingingsheet metal bolt 25. Bolt 25 is normally drawn into lockedoverengagement with the shoulder 22 of the keeper by means of a spring33. This mechanism is positioned forwardly of the radiator 24 and behindthe front grille 50. Bolt 25 would accordingly be accessible by means ofan implement thrust through the grille, were it not guarded by theshield 49.

A spring 35, encircling stud ll, resists closing movement of the lid,and lifts the same sufliciently to 'free the keeper head 20' from thebolt 25 whenever the latter is released. Spring 35 is positioned by andbears against an inverted cup 31, slidable upon the stud. The lower edgeof the cup is flanged to form a seat for the spring, and such flange,being too large to pass through the opening 32, serves as an abutment torestrain the lower end of the spring and'cause the same to be compressedas the lid is pressed downwardly to force the keeper through the opening32. An opening 39 is formedin cup 31 to permit a screw driver to bethrust therethrough into engagement with the set screw 2|, and the lowerextremity of the keeper head20 is also slotted, as

secured to the plate 30, underlying the bolt j and spring 33, to preventpicking the latch'by means of an implement thrust-through the frontgrille 50.

A hook-type safety catch 55, formed of'sheet metal, is pivoted on a pin56 mounted in lugs-5? pressed downwardly from the plate 15. The safetycatch hook will be seen to be located directly in front of the maincatch, and to be projectible through an opening 58 in plate 3B. Atorsion spring 59 wrapped about the pin 56 yieldably swings the hook tothe rear, so that it normally underlies the plate 33 and blocks risingmovement of the lid, even though the main latch bolt 25 be released. Afinger portion G?) integral with the hook and located above the plate 38projects forwardly to a convenient position which allows the hook to betripped to released position by a person standing in front of thevehicle and gripping the lid in the natural manner, to lift it, althoughof course it is impossible thus to release the safety catch hook andlift the lid until the main latch has been released, permitting the lidto open partially, to th extent indicated in Figure 4. cess to theinterior and the safety catch.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim: I 1

1. In locking means for an automobile hood having hingedly connectedmembers with latchpart mounting members on the respectiv hood members,one of said mounting members being vertically superposed over the otherwhen the hood is in closed position, a combined centering member andkeeper mounted on and vertically rotatably adjustable in relation to oneof said mounting members, the other mounting member being apertured toreceive said keeper in guiding relationship, said keeper including astem and a head, said head having a portion, adjacent the outer end ofthe stem, of substantially greater diameter than the stem, and havingdownwardly and inwardly converging walls, a thrust member mounted on andguided by said keeper, and yielding means adapted to urge said thrustmember against said opposite latch-part mounting member whereby, whenthe keeper is released, the thrust member is adapted to lift the upperhinged member, said thrust member being in the form of a cup surroundingsaid head, and having an inwardly extending upper flange adapted toengage said 'head, said head having adjacent its tip, a tool receivingaperture, said aperture being freely exposed at all positions of thecup.

2. In locking means for an automobile hood having hingedly connectedmembers with latch-.

Such partial opening makes possible ac w part mounting members on therespective hood members, one of said mounting members being verticallysuperposed over the other when the hood is in closed position, acombined centering member and keeper mounted on and vertically rotatablyadjustable in relation to one of said mounting members, the othermounting member being apertured to receive said keeper in guidingrelationship, said keeper including a stem and a head, said head havinga portion, adjacent the outer end of the stem, of substantially greaterdiameter than the stem, and having downwardly and inwardly convergingwalls, a thrust member mounted on and guided by said keeper, andyielding means adapted to urge said thrust member against said oppositelatch-part mounting member whereby, when the keeper is released, thethrust member is adapted to lift the upper hinged member, said thrustmember being in the form of a cup surrounding saidhead, and having aninwardly extending upper flange adapted to engage said head, said headhaving adjacent its tip, a tool receiving aperture, said aperture beingfreely exposed at all positions of the cup, its top extending below thebottom of the cup, at all positions of'the cup.

3. In locking means for an automobile hood having hingedly connectedmembers with latchpart mounting members on the respective hood members,one of said mounting members being vertically superposed over the otherwhen the hood is in closed position, a combined centering member andkeeper mounted on and vertically rotatably adjustable in relation to oneof said mounting members, the other mounting member being apertured toreceive said keeper in guiding relationship, said keeper including astem and a head, said head having a portion, adjacent the outer end ofthe stem, of substantially greater diameter than the stem, and havingdownwardly and inwardly converging walls, a thrust member mounted on andguided by said keeper, and yielding means adapted to urge said thrustmember against said opposite latch part mounting member whereby, whenthe keeper is released, the thrust member'is adapted to lift the upperhinged member, said thrust member being in the 'form of a cupsurrounding said head, and having an inwardly extending upper flangeadapted to enage said-head, said head having adjacent its tip, a toolreceiving aperture, said aperture being freely exposed at all positionsof the cup, and means for locking said centering member and keeperagainst unintended rotation.

4, In locking means for an automobile hood having hingedly connectedmembers, with a latch-part mounting element on 'one of said members, acombined centering member and keeper' mo'unted'on and rotatablyadjustable in relation to said mounting element, said member including astem and agenerally conic head having a latch receiving ledge at itsbase, its outer, freeend having a tool receiving aperture adapted forrotating th keeper, a cup guided on and adapted substantially to nclosesaid head, and having a flange adapted to'abut against said ledge, thedepth of said cup being less than the length of said head from saidledge to the outer free end of the head, said aperture being clear'ofsaid cup, and exposed, at all positions of the cup, and yielding meansnormally tending to seat said cup against said ledge, and about saidhead.

\ ALBERT J. RHODES.

